Appraiser Update-Jewelry Issue

[karma]

Hello,
The trustee hired an appraiser to appraise our personal stuff, which he came and did. We have not found out the value yet. On our bk forms, I listed my wedding ring (very small diamond and scratched up band) for $25. Well since we filed, while at work, the setting broke for the diamond, I found it and I placed the ring and diamond in an envelope, which I can now not find. I looked everywhere for it (work and home). When the appraiser came, I told him this (which is all true), but now we got an email from our attorney today stating the trustee now states we have not cooperated with the appraiser and we need to take ALL of our jewelry (which is only the ring I cannot find) to our area auction house for appraisal. How am I supposed to do this if I cannot find it? We never got insurance on the ring or anything for it was never worth enough to validate insurance. I informed the attorney of this and he was going to tell the trustee this, but I am just wondering what she will make us do?

[AngelinaCat]

Aw Gee, sound like you have a real _______ for a trustee. Is this the local trustee, or the UST trustee?

From what I have read here, there seems to be a percentage of filers that get picked for a closer audit. I can't imagine what might have triggered this except for you being the *lucky* one percent.

I hope your attorney is a good tenacious one and is working on this with you.

Sending positive vibes your way......

[southernbelle]

Positive vibes also. And I thought my Trustee was thorough. I don't know why the trustee can't understand how losing something as small as a ring could happen to anyone. To make you guys jump through hoops at this point doesn't make sense. With so much other stuff on your plate, the last thing you need is to deal with this.

Did the trustee give you a deadline to take the jewelry? If so, search like heck for it and if you still can't find it I would ask what the trustee wants you to do at that point? I have an idea. Do you have any pictures of you wearing the ring? You can also try to get a notorized statement from someone that has seen you wearing the ring.

Sorry I can't be any more help, but I'll pray this works out for you.

[Flamingo]

Southernbelle's suggestion to you about a photograph wearing the ring or a notarized statement from someone who has seen the ring is excellent. Were there any witnesses at work to when the ring broke? Anyone know of your putting that ring in an envelope? If so, get a notarized statement from them. Anything is worth a shot in this situation if you cannot find that envelope.

Murphy's law always hits at the worst time - "It will go wrong and it will go wrong at the worst possible time."

[justplaintired]

Wow, that trustee sounds like a real winner. I think the idea of a photo or possibly witnesses who saw it break would definitely help. I sure hope you get something figured out. I guess trustees forget how life happens sometimes.

I am curious why the trustee would have even had an appraiser come. Did you have issues with your case. I haven't seen to many cases on here where the trustee has an appraiser come to a persons house. Hope you don't mind me asking.

Good luck and Thanks!

[Priceless ProSe]

Im not suggesting fraud, but I would probably be so PO'd I would just buy a ring from a 25 cent machine and take it to the appriaser and sat "there it is". Once they said it wasnt real id just say "oops, i guess the guy that sold it to me tricked me!"

But that probably woldnt do real well for your case. I think the suggestion about the pic is ok, and even if its not just make an affidavit about what happened to the ring, what can they do?

[Cali]

That is odd that he had an appraiser come to your house.

And I also agree with the pic or witness for the missing ring.

[karma]

Yes, I do have a coworker that can attest that I broke the ring and put it in the envelope and also that I lost it, for I told her I lost it the next week. I do also have a picture of the ring, but not in the damaged condition, only newer (on my wedding day). Someone asked why she hired an appraiser. We have a couple of assets we are giving up (car and boat), and I think she thought if she sent someone to our house, he would find more assets over the exemption limit. I think what the appraiser found at our house was a disappointment, for we do not have anything expensive, just normal stuff. We will see.